- Enrollment
- 2,740
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Dana Point, CA
Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Richard Henry Dana Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060744000699
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Richard Henry Dana Elementary earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of California schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Dana Point · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 41.9:1
- large classes for California
- 51.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Richard Henry Dana Elementary has class sizes larger than 99% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Richard Henry Dana Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Dana Point, CA.
School address
District: Capistrano Unified · California
NCES ID 060744000699 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+90 students YoY
Richard Henry Dana Elementary grew from 294 students in 2022-23 to 384 in 2023-24 (+30.6%).
Teacher FTE added 11.9 → 19.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+90 students YoY 060744000699 · Dana Point, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
461 enr · 41.9:1 · 51.7% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: San Clemente High (2,740 students)
Richard Henry Dana Elementary grew from 294 students in 2022-23 to 384 in 2023-24 (+30.6%). Teacher FTE added 11.9 → 19.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Richard Henry Dana Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- San Clemente H
San Clemente High
2,740 students
- San Juan Hills
San Juan Hills High
2,641 students
- Aliso Niguel H
Aliso Niguel High
2,563 students
- Tesoro High
Tesoro High
2,030 students
- Capistrano Val
Capistrano Valley High
1,991 students
- This school 461
Richard Henry Dana Elementary
461 students
What this shows Richard Henry Dana Elementary reports 461 students on the CCD universe file.
How Richard Henry Dana Elementary compares
Richard Henry Dana Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 41.9:1 | ▲ 95% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.7% | ▼ 7% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 461 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
41.9:1
Leaner classes than 0% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
461
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
41.9:1
students per teacher
- 95% above state mean
Top 99% in California - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
15.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,820
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 461 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 44.9%
White 39.3%
Two or More 13.9%
Asian 1.5%
African American 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.4, Richard Henry Dana Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Capistrano Unified reports $15,820 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Richard Henry Dana Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Clemente High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Juan Hills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Aliso Niguel High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tesoro High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Capistrano Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Richard Henry Dana Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,641
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,563
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,991
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Dana Point
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~461 students)
Frequently asked questions about Richard Henry Dana Elementary
How many students attend Richard Henry Dana Elementary?
Richard Henry Dana Elementary has 461 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Dana Point, CA. CCD year-over-year: 294 (2022-23) → 384 (2023-24), up 90.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Richard Henry Dana Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Richard Henry Dana Elementary is 41.9:1, which is 95% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 167% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Richard Henry Dana Elementary?
51.7% of students at Richard Henry Dana Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Richard Henry Dana Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Richard Henry Dana Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 44.9% of enrollment, in Dana Point, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Richard Henry Dana Elementary?
Richard Henry Dana Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Richard Henry Dana Elementary rank among public schools in Dana Point?
By Resource Investment Index, Richard Henry Dana Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Dana Point, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Capistrano Unified?
Besides Richard Henry Dana Elementary, Capistrano Unified also operates San Clemente High (2,740 students), San Juan Hills High (2,641 students), and Aliso Niguel High (2,563 students). See the Capistrano Unified district page for the complete list.